Sri Adi Sankara Bhagavadpada - Part I

By Super

India is characteristic of a mystic appeal and is ever ready to embrace into her fold, all those who are eager to partake of her spiritual bounty. It is the birth place of many a spiritual giants (Gurus or Masters), from different walks of life who appeared to root out the weeds of ignorance that seem to cover the vast expanse of the pure mind. They diligently lead the seekers to an inward journey to explore the true purpose of one's existence and discover their true being; an attempt to lose all miseries that crop up mysteriously in life and to bask in everlasting bliss.

In the word 'Guru', 'Gu' meaning 'darkness or ignorance' and 'Ru' meaning 'the remover of that ignorance' clearly states the role of a Guru. Of the spiritual masters of India, Adi Sankara Bhagavadpada was the advocator of the Advaita Philosophy (Non-Dualiam) that propounded the law about the unity of the soul and the Brahman (Divine) and that the Brahman by nature had no attributes. Lets take a peep into the life of this great saint.

In a place called Kaladi in the state of Kerala, Adi Sankara was born as a result of the piety of his parents, Sivaguru and Aryambal. Adi Sankara's parents sought the feet of Lord Vadakunnathan ( Lord Shiva) in Trissur in want of a son. The lord greatly pleased with the couple's devotion appeared in their dream and asked them to choose between having an extraordinary and an exemplary son who will live only for a short span of a time or an ordinary son who will live long. It is not difficult to guess that the couple chose the extraordinary one who was none other than Adi Sankara. He was born under the star of Thiruvaitthirai and was named Sankara by his parents. He was believed to have been the incarnation of Lord Dakshinamurthy, the primal Guru.

Adi Sankara. Even as a child Sankara attracted people with his intelligence and kindness. He lost his father in the early age of four. He was soon initiated into Bramacharyam and sent to the Gurukul to learn the scriptures.